A big change for me

[GT500GATOR]

Thanks for your service to our country!

We all owe you a alot of respect for standing the guard, and for your dedication, and sacrifices while protecting our freedoms!

Dennis
CPO (Ret.)

[gr8snkbite]

Originally Posted by GT500GATOR

Thanks for your service to our country!

We all owe you a alot of respect for standing the guard, and for your dedication, and sacrifices while protecting our freedoms!

Dennis
CPO (Ret.)

dennis..i keep getting the feeling i know you...where did you serve (ships)

[GRABBER]

Thanks for all the years of service Greg.

I sure hope your house sells quickly so your wife can come be by your side soon. It must be tough with out her.

[Ebonee Princess]

Congratulations on your retirement...
Thank you for your sacrifice and dedication..thanks to your bride too.
It is a big sacrifice for the family too.

[rown4au]

Greg;

I am sitting here reading all these posts thanking you and thinking what I could say other than a simple thank you and much of what comes to mind seems trite or kind of silly but I am going try to say some of it and hopefully it doesn't come off the wrong way.

The military is not an easy life for those that serve, and although I have had some exposure through friends and family that have served and still do, I won't try to pretend I know what you and your family have sacrificed over the the time you have chosen to place the needs of your country first.

It is the sacrifices that you and people like you that have made have allowed me and others like me to have the freedoms we have and life that we currently enjoy and I think all too often we take this for granted. I look forward to meeting you at Orfstock and buying you a beer or five to say thanks personally.

Jaime

[Alloy Dave]

Originally Posted by rown4au

Greg;
It is the sacrifices that you and people like you that have made have allowed me and others like me to have the freedoms we have and life that we currently enjoy and I think all too often we take this for granted.

Jaime

Totally agree...thanks Greg.

[Carnut]

I guess by now, civilian life is starting to creep in a little. How ya doing?

[Darkside]

Originally Posted by Carnut

I guess by now, civilian life is starting to creep in a little. How ya doing?

First of all, I would like to thank everyone for their kind words.

For me, civilian life is a bit different.

Before I get into that, the military folks (or vets) here will enjoy this story.

I am with some students is Tucson showing them some locations they can use for upcominf school assignments and we come across two Army guys looking at some displays that vendors have set up in a little plaza.

One of the soldiers is a senior guy, E-7, and he is walking around with his beret in his hand. Outside you wear your headgear, you learn this day 1 of Basic Training. His buddy isn't correcting him and no one else there is military so the lazy SOB will get away with it.........wrong.

It just happens to be 29 April, my second to last full day on Active Duty. I walk up to him, identify myself as a Master Sergeant, and tell him to put his beret on. I always hated lazy folks who didn't do the little things right because they thought they would get away with it. I couldn't let it go AND my students double dog dared me to do it.

Now on to civilian life. Not that much different as I am working on base. Still dealing with the Army and its politics, but at the school house it is very nice to be the one handing out the school work and grading it as opposed to sweating getting it done and done right. I am fortunate that the students I am working with directly this iteration of our class seem to be on the right track and are doing things right. Good students require less paperwork.

Being able to have facial hair is nice as Momma D likes the goatee that I know have. Getting paid overtime and getting comp time is the best part of the job, but the tax man is on me like stink on shit. Not wearing a uniform in the desert heat of Arizona is sweet.

I work with a good bunch of folks who get along and who treat me well and are teaching me the ins and outs of being an instructor. The old saying while I was in uniform was "Those who can - Do, those who can't - Teach. In civilian life, if you didn't have the chops to do it, you aren't getting hired to teach.

[Ebonee Princess]

It sounds like you are making civilian life look really good.
Enjoy to the fullest, you have earned every minute.
as for the taxes....it's gonna get worse before it gets better...I'm guessing about 42 months give or take.

[Shlbylvr]

Greg,

Good on you for correcting that Lazy SOB.

I've always been in awe of the US military. Even though the job is not an easy one, You can see the pride shining in most soldiers eyes. Because of soldiers like you and VSA, we have the freedom to live was we please. I thank you, from the bottom of my heart for your sacrifice. If I ever get to meet you and Snack Attack, first round is my treat (Note, I did not say on me, I know how VSA's mind works).

Thanks again and huge thanks to Momma D for her sacrifice.

Heidi

[gr8snkbite]

Originally Posted by Shlbylvr

Greg,

Good on you for correcting that Lazy SOB.

I've always been in awe of the US military. Even though the job is not an easy one, You can see the pride shining in most soldiers eyes. Because of soldiers like you and VSA, we have the freedom to live was we please. I thank you, from the bottom of my heart for your sacrifice. If I ever get to meet you and Snack Attack, first round is my treat (Note, I did not say on me, I know how VSA's mind works).

Thanks again and huge thanks to Momma D for her sacrifice.

Heidi

i wouldnt do that....

[Shlbylvr]

Originally Posted by gr8snkbite

i wouldnt do that....

Sure!!!

[cheftjpeck]

Greg
what can I say that I have not already told you except thank you....thank you for protecting my family and allowing my children to choose where they want to go to school, where they work, how they make a living and all the other great freeedoms that my family enjoys because of great and loyal americans such as yourself and all others...thank you for keeping those SOB's at bay with you and your fellow soldiers protecting this great nation....at the same time I want to apologize to you and all other fine military personnel who served or will serve....I want to say I am sorry that even though we are still the greatest country in the world, we lose sight of what made us this way and how and what we have to do to preserve it. I fear that our current administration is about celebrity stature and not what is right for our country....I am confident that because of your service though that someday that the sheep will wake up and realize the mission is not over and we need to be diligent. hopefully it will not come at a price...

Thank you a million times over Greg......Good luck in your post military life...and always remember you have a brother and friend in me....

TJ